Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: School Days

  1. Fun Summer Activities For The Whole Family

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    When the kids have time off of school (or home schooling), take advantage of some of those gorgeous summer afternoons to plan activities together as a family. Not only will everyone have fun along the way, but you’ll end the day with some lasting memories and maybe some good old-fashion family bonding. Here are a few ideas for fun summer activities for the whole family.

    PIN - Fun Summer Activities

    Fruit Picking

    Find a local farm that is close by or use the internet to find one a little further away. If the farm is close, it can be a day trip. If not, why not make a mini family vacation out of this adventure? Kids will love seeing where strawberries come from, and picking their own is a great way to get them involved with their own nutrition.

    During the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen pick your own farms offering a Drive Thru service, which is very innovative!

    The best part is that when they’re all done, you can all pitch in to make some great strawberry jam or even a strawberry pie.

    Kite Flying

    If you like gettnig outside for your daily exercise, younger children will love the exhilaration that comes from controlling something darting and dancing around the sky. Older kids and adults might like to try their hand at a trick kite for a more challenging part of this family outing. Once everyone has a kite up and flying, hold some family contests, like who can get their kite the highest and who can make theirs dive the furthest and still rise back up to the sky.

    Museums

    Many museums and attractions are now offering virtual tours, so look for museums that have children’s sections in addition to their main museum. That way kids will have fun with hands-on activities, but older kids and adults can still browse exhibits that they find interesting. If all kids are younger (age 8 or younger) try to see if there is a children’s museum nearby. They will love using their minds and imaginations to explore the exhibits, and parents might just find some fun activities too.

    Beaches

    If you live in an area that lets you take advantage of a beautiful beach, grab the opportunity. Beaches might be a bit of a cliché summer destination, but there’s good reason. Kids and can splash in the water and build sandcastles with parental supervision, and older kids or teens can relax on the sand and read a book or listen to music. There are lots of discussions about the use of beaches and open spaces during the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore this option should be considered with discretion and consideration of others.

    There are many fun summer activities that your whole family can enjoy. So this year take advantage of some of those sunny afternoons to make some lasting memories, at a safe distance of course.

    PIN - Fun Summer Activities (1)

  2. How to encourage a love of learning

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    We all want the best for our children. to hand them a future that can thrive in. As parents, we know a key factor to the life we want for our children is a quality education. today things are complicated but your child's education doesn't have to be.

    Many parents are home schooling at the moment and by encouraging a love of learning, you help your child learn how to learn and find joy in doing it every single day. Encourage your child to have a love of learning and you give them the key to the world.

    Make learning fun for your child to help them choose to learn. When your child is having fun they learn better and more importantly they WANT to learn. Spend time looking for ways to make learning fun, active and engaging.

    Science is one of the easier subjects to start with when aiming to make their learning fun. Dive into science experiments, grab a microscope, and see things from a new light. Learn through play with younger children allowing them to touch, feel, and experiment as they explore the world and concepts around them (not to mention slime making)

    Slime

    Building catapults, batteries, and robots is always good for entertaining your kids but it is also a great way to get your children excited to learn something new. take advantage of interest boards for do it yourself ideas or order STEM kits off like to give your child activities to work on.

    Get out and explore the world, field trips are one of the best ways to connect learning with the real world. The right field trip can bring history to life, reinforce science concepts, or capture your child's imagination. Take advantage of local historical sites, trails, and museums to help engage your child. When traveling or on vacation make a point to spend some time on a field trip with your child to make a learning event out of it.

    Offer plenty of variety for your child. The more opportunities your child has to learn the more likely they are to engage in learning on their own. The more you offer your child the more opportunity they will have to find new interests. Look for a variety of things for your child when shopping. A great way to add variety and stick to a budget is to buy used books, toys, and learning aids that your child can take advantage of. See what things that your child enjoys the most and add more like it.

    Use interests to your advantage. Buy books that pertain to your child's hobbies and interests. Look for activities and kits that help you teach your child that utilize your child's interests.

    Allow your child to get bored. When you come to the rescue for your child every time they come to you bored you are limiting their potential to look for new and exciting ways to learn on their own. by giving your child a chance to get bored each day you open up their interest in exploring the many great things you are offering them and encouraging them to seek out knowledge on their own. 

    PIN - How to encourage a love of learning

     

     

  3. How to motivate your kids the right way during a pandemic

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    If you are a parent, there is probably no one in the world who hates the current situation more than you do. You are doing your very best to keep the kids occupied but at the same time, keep them productive. Let's be honest, getting a teenager out of bed can leave you feeling exhausted.

    You might be extremely frustrated and looking for any kind of help to motivate them. Well you are the perfect place. We have put together a collection of ideas to make them productive the best way. 

    Let them help when you decide their daily routine

    It's true that if your child is young, you are the person who knows exactly what will work best for them. But if you really want to follow the schedule, it is recommended that you involve them when you create it

    Take their suggestions on what they want to do in their free time. Make sure they are comfortable with the routine and it’s not affecting mentally. This will make it easier for you to make them follow it.

    Homeschooling

    Listen and try to understand their problems

    Being a close friend to your child is the best way to get them to listen. Kids get frustrated when they don’t get what they want. Even if you can’t always say yes, it is a good habit to at least listen carefully. 

    Ask what it is that bothers them and try to resolve it. Ask what they love to do and incorporate it in their routine if possible. Knowing what they want often makes it simple for you to understand them better. Speak to them as much as you can. Encourage them to try again if they fail and motivate them for it.

    Try to balance education and fun together

    Education is definitely very much crucial for kids to grow. That doesn’t mean that all they have to do is study. Doing fun and interesting things once in a while lifts their spirits up and makes them happy.

    You can play their favourite games with them or watch movies together. Keep some time in their day to have some fun and relax. Let them enjoy things sometimes because it will help them focus more when it comes to studying as well. 

    Be strict when you have to but don’t be aggressive

    Many days, you will see that being soft is not working and your child is still throwing an unnecessary tantrum. You need to make sure you are extra strict those days to make sure they do the work assigned to them.

    Using mild punishments to make them behave well is okay sometimes. Don’t be too tough and always keep in mind they are small. Try to be tough through words and teach them that way. Get them to do stuff but don’t force when they are not in the mood. 

    Don’t stress yourself and them out 

    It is completely okay if you don’t always have the right answers to issues. Keep a good attitude and handle things one at a time so it doesn’t overwhelm you. At the same time, keep a constant check on kids to see what they are feeling. 

    Being productive doesn’t mean ignoring mental or physical wellness. This applies to both you and your child. Take breaks when needed and work hard to do things in hand. Enjoy this time with your kids as much as possible and create a special bond with them. 

    PIN - motivate your kids

    Conclusion:

    In situations as tough as the current one, keeping your calm is extremely important. Kids are bound to make mistakes at some point in life. As a parent, it's your responsibility to keep them on the right track. These tips are a way to make sure you do it as best as you can. 

    Learn from your own experience as you go further. Be a good mix of loving and tough to get better results.

    Keep trying and be safe.  

     

  4. Silly Questions To Ask Kids

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    Silly Questions to ask Kids_#6_Blog

    With everyone staying at home at the moment, there seems less to talk about at the end of the day. There are less funny stories to regal from our days at school or work so when there is nothing to discuss over dinner, why not try asking some of our silly questions?

    Like, if your pet could talk, what would its voice sound like?

    Or

    What is the weirdest food combination? You might be surprised ..... or have an alternative dinner option this week!

    Feel free to right click the image below and print out to play with your children.

    Silly Questions to ask Kids_#6-01 (1)

    We would love you to share some of your answers!